§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if records are kept which show in relation to lay justices and stipendiary magistrates(a) the average length of trials before them, (b) the average fines imposed by them and (c) the number of successful appeals from them. [5031]
§ Mr. HoonThis information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria exist to enable comparisons between the performance of lay magistrates and stipendiary magistrates. [5033]
§ Mr. HoonThe Lord Chancellor's Department does not attempt to draw comparisons between the performance of judicial officers.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to require stipendiary magistrates to sit with lay justices. [5034]
§ Mr. HoonThere are some situations, for example in the youth court and the family court, where either law or practice requires stipendiary magistrates to sit with lay justices. There are no current plans to add to these categories.
402W
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the savings in cost and time from appointing a higher proportion of stipendiary magistrates. [5035]
§ Mr. HoonNo formal assessment has been made of the savings in cost and time which might result from appointing a higher proportion of stipendiary magistrates. The Study of Delay in the Criminal Justice System (the Narey Report), contained no specific cost-benefit analysis.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of the justices of the peace in England are qualified barristers or solicitors. [5036]
§ Mr. HoonNo records are kept of the numbers of justices of the peace who are qualified barristers or solicitors.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of the magistrates courts in England and Wales are equipped to cater for magistrates who are registered disabled. [5038]
§ Mr. HoonAs magistrates court buildings are the responsibility of the local authorities this information is not centrally held. The design standards set down for magistrates courts since 1991 require the magistrates' entry into the courthouse and access to a proportion of the courtrooms to be suitable for wheelchairs. Provision is also made for loop induction systems to be provided for those with hearing impairments. Disabled toilet facilities are also provided within the magistrates' circulation area. Applications by local authorities for grant aid to adapt older magistrates courts to provide improved facilities for disabled users including magistrates are treated as high priority bids when allocating capital grant.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of magistrates in England and Wales are registered disabled. [5040]
§ Mr. HoonNo records are kept for the percentage of magistrates in England and Wales who are registered disabled.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of(a) lay magistrates and (b) stipendiary magistrates are from an ethnic minority background. [5041]
§ Mr. Hoon(a) a survey of the ethnic origin of lay magistrates was begun in February 1997 and the results are expected to be available in early October.
(b) 2 per cent. of stipendiary magistrates are from an ethnic minority background.
Mr. MaloneTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will establish a working group to report on the quality of justice and the relative case disposal rate of lay justices and stipendiary magistrates. [5030]
§ Mr. HoonThe working party on the role of the stipendiary magistracy reported in February 1996. There are no current plans to commission a further study.